Micro puree machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a micro puree machine that includes a blade assembly, a lid assembly, and a clip mechanism. The blade assembly has a central support hub, a blade, and an undercut. The lid assembly is configured to cooperate with a bowl assembly and includes a lid and a clip mechanism. The clip mechanism is movable between a first position and a second position and cooperates with the undercut at times the clip mechanism is the in the first position. The blade assembly is retained in the lid assembly at times the clip mechanism is in or near the first position, and the blade assembly is disengaged from the undercut and removable from the lid assembly at times the clip mechanism is in or near the second position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a kitchen and food processing device,and more particularly, to a device and system for micro pureeing frozeningredients to make frozen foods and drinks.

BACKGROUND

Home use machines that are intended to make ice creams, gelatos, frozenyogurts, sorbets and the like are known in the art. Typically, a useradds a series of non-frozen ingredients to a bowl. The ingredients arethen churned by a paddle while a refrigeration mechanism simultaneouslyfreezes the ingredients. These devices have known shortcomingsincluding, but not limited to, the amount of time and effort required bythe user to complete the ice cream making process. Machines of thisnature are impractical for preparing most non-dessert food products.

An alternative type of machine known to make a frozen food product is amicro-puree machine. Typically, machines of this nature spin and plungea blade into a pre-frozen ingredient or combination of ingredients.While able to make frozen desserts like ice creams, gelatos, frozenyogurts, sorbets and the like, micro-puree style machines can alsoprepare non-dessert types of foods such as non-dessert purees andmousses. In addition, the devices are able to prepare either an entirebatch of ingredients to be served or they can prepare a pre-desirednumber of servings. Known machines of this nature are commercial-gradeand are exceedingly large and heavy. They require complex systems thatare difficult to maintain and are typically too expensive, cumbersomeand/or impractical for home use by consumers.

The present invention solves these and other problems in the prior art.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device forthe processing of food and beverage ingredients.

In one exemplary embodiment according the present disclosure, a devicefor processing food and beverage items is provided including a lowerhousing, an upper housing and a middle housing, together with aninterface for user inputs and a display for providing information to theuser. The device further comprises a gearbox assembly and a drive motorassembly, as well as a position motor. The position motor enablesvertical movement of the gearbox assembly and drive motor assembly. Thedrive motor assembly provides power to a power shaft and couplingconnected to a rotating blade assembly that engages with ingredients forprocessing.

In some embodiments, the blade assembly comprises one or more cuttingblades having alternating grooves with distinct dimensions to create acutting profile that provides for improved power management andprocessing efficiencies. The blade assembly in some embodiments furthercomprises a central hub for accommodating a power coupling, withimproved engagement features for connecting the power coupling and theblade assembly.

In some embodiments, the device further includes a lifting platform andcam path tubular insert for providing vertical movement of a bowlassembly and lid assembly by rotational movement of an outer bowlhandle.

In some embodiments, the beaker of the bowl assembly is disposable, andcan be prefilled with desired ingredients and sold as a standalone item.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and many of theattendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure including a bowl assembly and lidassembly;

FIG. 2 is another isometric view of the device of FIG. 1 without thebowl assembly and lid assembly;

FIG. 3A is a left side view of the device of FIG. 1 without the bowlassembly and lid assembly;

FIG. 3B is a left side view of the device of FIG. 1 with the bowlassembly and lid assembly in an up position;

FIG. 3C is a left side view of the device of FIG. 1 with the bowlassembly and lid assembly in a down position;

FIG. 4A is a right side view of the device of FIG. 1 without the bowlassembly and lid assembly;

FIG. 4B is a right side view of the device of FIG. 1 with the bowlassembly and lid assembly in an up position;

FIG. 4C is a right side view of the device of FIG. 1 with the bowlassembly and lid assembly in a down position;

FIG. 5A is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1 with the bowl assemblyand lid assembly in an up position;

FIG. 5B is a right side cutaway view of the device of FIG. 5A alongsection A-A;

FIG. 6A is a rear view of the device of FIG. 1 with the bowl assemblyand lid assembly in a down position;

FIG. 6B is a left side cutaway view of the device of FIG. 6A alongsection B-B;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of internal components of the device of FIG.1;

FIG. 8A is front view of gearbox and drive motor assemblies of thedevice of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8B is side cutaway view of the assemblies of FIG. 8A along sectionC-C;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the gearbox and drive motor assemblies ofthe device with housings removed;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the blade assembly of the device of FIG.1;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the underside of the blade assembly of FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the top of the blade assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13A is a section view through the center of the central supporthub;

FIG. 13B is a plan view of the top of the central support hub;

FIG. 14A is an isometric view of the power coupling of the device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 14B is a plan view of the bottom of the power coupling of FIG. 14A;

FIG. 15 is a plan view of the central support hub from above;

FIG. 16A is a cutaway view of the central support hub along section A-Aof FIG. 15;

FIG. 16B is a cutaway view of the central support hub along section B-Bof FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a section view through a cutting blade of the device of FIG.1;

FIG. 18 is a cutting profile of the blade assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 19 is an isometric view of a V-shaped groove on the underside ofthe central support hub;

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of the exterior of the beaker of the bowlassembly;

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of the outer bowl of the bowl assembly;

FIG. 22 is an isometric view of the bottom of the outer bowl;

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of the exterior of the lifting platform;

FIG. 24 is an isometric view of the interior of the lifting platform;

FIG. 25A is a plan view of the cam path tubular insert;

FIG. 25B is a sectional view of the cam path tubular insert alongsection A-A of FIG. 25A;

FIG. 26 is a sectional view of the cam path tubular insert inside thelifting platform;

FIG. 27 is an isometric view of the underside of the lid assembly with ablade assembly installed therein;

FIG. 28 is top view of the blade assembly and spring-biased primary setsof clips;

FIG. 29 is a side cross-sectional view of FIG. 28 along line 1-1 withadditional features of the lid assembly shown;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged view of the interaction between the primary setof clips and the blade assembly;

FIG. 31A is an overhead view of the lid assembly with the clip releaselever in the home position;

FIG. 31B is an overhead view of the lid assembly with the clip releaselever in approximately a mid-way rotated position;

FIG. 31C is an overhead view of the lid assembly with the clip releaselever in the fully-rotated position;

FIG. 32 is a partial isometric view of the underside of the upperhousing;

FIG. 33A is a schematic view of the interaction between the clip releaselever and the clip lever contact ledge during installation when no bladeis present;

FIG. 33B is a schematic view of the interaction between the clip releaselever and the clip lever contact ledge during installation when a bladeis properly installed;

FIG. 34A is an overhead schematic view of the initial stages ofinstallation of the bowl assembly and the lid assembly with no bladeassembly installed in the lid assembly;

FIG. 34B is an overhead schematic view part way through the installationof the bowl assembly and the lid assembly with no blade assemblyinstalled in the lid assembly;

FIG. 34C is an overhead schematic view of the final stages ofinstallation of the bowl assembly and the lid assembly with no bladeassembly installed in the lid assembly;

FIG. 35A is an overhead schematic view of the initial stages ofinstallation of the bowl assembly and the lid assembly with a bladeassembly properly installed in the lid assembly;

FIG. 35B is an overhead schematic view part way through the installationof the bowl assembly and the lid assembly with a blade assembly properlyinstalled in the lid assembly; and

FIG. 35C is an overhead schematic view of the final stages ofinstallation of the bowl assembly and the lid assembly with a bladeassembly properly installed in the lid assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference tothe following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of thisdisclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limitedto the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters describedand/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only andis not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims,the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, andreference to a particular numerical value includes at least thatparticular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Rangesmay be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” oneparticular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particularvalue. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes fromthe one particular value and/or to the other particular value.Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of theantecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular valueforms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatialreferences, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper,lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only andcan be varied within the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a device 10 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present disclosure. The device 10 includes a lowerhousing or base 100 and an upper housing 140. A middle housing 120extends between the lower housing 100 and upper housing 140. The upperhousing 140 includes an interface 142 for receiving user inputs tocontrol the device 10 and/or display information. The device 10 includesa removable bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400 on the base 100. FIG.2 shows the device 10 with the bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400removed.

As further described herein, the bowl assembly 350 receives one or moreingredients for processing. The bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400are placed on the lower housing 100 as show in FIG. 1. The bowl assembly350 and lid assembly 400 are rotatable on a lifting platform 362 from adown position to an up position, and vice versa.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate left side views of the device 10 without a bowlassembly 350 and lid assembly 400, with the bowl assembly 350 and lidassembly 400 in an up position, and with the bowl assembly 350 and lidassembly 400 in a down position, respectively. FIGS. 4A-4C illustrateright side views of the device 10 without a bowl assembly 350 and lidassembly 400, with the bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400 in an upposition, and with the bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly in a downposition, respectively.

As will be discussed in more detail below, when the bowl assembly 350and lid assembly 400 are raised vertically to the up position, a bladeassembly 300 within the lid assembly 400 engages with a power coupling252 at the distal end of power shaft 250 extending from the upperhousing 140. A rotational force is delivered via the power coupling 252to the blade assembly 300 to spin one or more blades as they engage withingredients inside the bowl assembly 350.

FIG. 5A is rear view of the device 10, with the bowl assembly 350 in theup position, showing a section line A-A. FIG. 5B is right side cutawayview of the device 10 along section A-A. FIG. 6A is rear view of thedevice 10, with the bowl assembly 350 in the down position, showing asection line B-B. FIG. 6B is a left side cutaway view of the device 10along section B-B.

The upper housing 140 includes gearbox assembly 220 and a drive motorassembly 240 connected to the gearbox assembly 220. The drive motorassembly 240 includes a drive motor housing 242 and a drive motor 244.The gearbox assembly 220 includes a gearbox housing 222 containing aplurality of gears for delivering power from the drive motor 244 to apower shaft 250. The power coupling 252 is positioned on a distal end ofthe power shaft 250.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the gearbox assembly 220 and drive motorassembly 240 of the device 10 with surrounding structure. The device 10includes an upper support 280 and a lower support 282 positioned in theupper housing 140. The gearbox assembly 220 and drive motor assembly 240are slidable up and down with respect to the upper and lower supports280, 282 along a plurality of pillars 270, 272, 274, 276. The pillarsand supports provide rigidity and concentric alignment. In the exemplaryembodiment, the gearbox assembly 220 and drive motor assembly 240 aresupported on the pillars via apertures 223, 225 in the gearbox housing222. In other embodiments, there may be apertures on the drive motorhousing 242 in addition to or instead of on the gearbox housing 222.

The device 10 includes a position motor 260 (e.g., DC motor) whichdrives a gearbox 262. The gearbox 262 is engaged with a verticalthreaded rod or worm gear 264 extending between the upper and lowersupports 280, 282. Actuation of the position motor 260, either manuallyvia the interface 142 or automatically, moves the gearbox assembly 220and drive motor assembly 240 up and down. The rod pitch of the worm gear264 relate to a vertical decent rate of the device 10. The drive motorassembly 240 moves down into a cavity 122 in the middle housing 120 (seeFIGS. 5B and 6B).

The power shaft 250 and power coupling 252 move together with thegearbox assembly 220 and drive motor assembly 240. Thus, actuation ofthe position motor 260 in turn allows for vertical movement andpositioning of a blade assembly 300 removably attached to the powercoupling 252. In the exemplary embodiment, the up and down traveldistance is between 70 and 120 mm, or between 90 and 100 mm, such asabout 94 mm.

The power coupling 252, and therefore the blade assembly 300, may becontrolled at different rotational speeds (e.g., via the drive motor244) and moved up and down (e.g., via the position motor 260) indifferent patterns and speeds to make different food items such asfrozen purees and desserts. Exemplary programs are illustrated below inTable 1.

TABLE 1 Decent Retraction Blade Blade Total Speed Decent SpeedRetraction Decent Retract Program Program (rpm) Time (s) (rpm) Time (s)RPM/mm RPM/mm RPM/mm Ice Cream 1200 60 450 30 13 2 15 Sorbet 1600 120450 30 34 2 36 Gelato 1200 60 450 30 13 2 15 Milkshake 1600 60 450 30 172 19 Smoothie 1600 120 1600 30 34 9 43 Bowl Frozen 1600 120 450 30 34 236 Drink Slush 1600 120 1600 30 34 9 43 Whip/ 1000 30 1000 30 5 5 11Re-Spin Mix-In 450 30 450 30 2 2 5

FIG. 8A is front view of the gearbox assembly 220 and drive motorassembly 240 of the device 10 of FIG. 1. FIG. 8B is side cutaway view ofthe assemblies of FIG. 8A along a section C-C. As discussed above, thegear assembly 220 includes a housing 222. In the exemplary embodiment,the housing 222 includes upper and lower portions removably attachedtogether. A housing 242 of the drive motor assembly 240 is removablyattached to the lower portion of the housing 222. In other embodiments,the housing 242 is formed together with the housing 222 or at leasttogether with the lower portion of the housing 222. In the exemplaryembodiment, the housing 242 includes a plurality of openings 243 forventilation and cooling of the drive motor 244. The device 10 mayfurther include a fan 245 on the motor 244.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the gearbox assembly 220 and drive motorassembly 240 with the housings 222, 242 removed. In the exemplaryembodiment, the drive motor 244 is rotatably connected to a transmission230. The transmission 230 is connected to a first gear 232. The firstgear 232 drives a gear 238, either directly or through one or aplurality of intermediate gears 234, 236, which then drives the powershaft 250.

The device 10 comprises a moving blade assembly 300 for processing foodand beverage items. FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the moving bladeassembly 300. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the underside of the movingblade assembly 300. FIG. 12 is a plan view of the top of the movingblade assembly 300. The moving blade assembly 300 comprises one or morecutting blades 301, 302 and one or more mixing blades 303, 304. Themoving blade assembly 300 further comprises a central support hub 305.The cutting blades 301, 302 and the mixing blades 303, 304 extendoutward from central support hub 305. The central support hub 305provides a central opening 306 for accepting the power coupling 252.

With reference to FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, cutting blades 301 and302 of said moving blade assembly 300 comprise a horizontally extendinglength having a proximal end 312 and a distal end 313. The proximal end312 meets the central support hub 305. The cutting blades 301, 302comprise a leading edge 314 and a follower edge 315. Likewise, mixingblades 303, 304 extend from the central support hub 305 and aregenerally positioned in an opposing orientation.

FIG. 13A and FIG. 13B show the engagement features of the centralsupport hub 305. The central support hub 305 comprises a plurality ofmale helical couplings 307 positioned along the interior sides of thecentral opening 306 and extending into the central opening 306. Betweensaid male helical couplings 307 are vacancies 308. In an exemplaryembodiment, the male helical couplings 307 comprise an angled lead in309. FIGS. 14A and 14B show the corresponding engagement features of thepower coupling 252. The power coupling 252 has a plurality of externalmale helical coupling components 254 with an angled lead-in 256. Saidmale helical coupling components 254 engage with corresponding vacancies308 within the central support hub 305. In some embodiments, the powercoupling 252 includes a magnet 258 at a distal end to aid in positioningand removably securing the blade assembly 300 and the power coupling252.

FIGS. 13A, and 28-30 show engagement features of the blade assembly 300for engagement with the lid assembly 400. The central support hub 305comprises an angled external ledge 310 and undercut 311. As will bediscussed more fully below, the lid assembly 400 comprises a primarysets of clips 408 that are spring-biased toward the center of the lidassembly 400. As the central support hub 305 travels upward into the lidassembly 400, the clips engage the undercut 311. The lid assembly 400and the blade assembly 300 are held together prior to the blade assembly300 engaging the power coupling 252.

It will be appreciated that the moving blade assembly 300 can be aunitary structure or can comprise distinct structures joined togethereither directly or indirectly. The moving blade assembly 300 in oneembodiment is cast stainless steel with a PVD titanium coating.

In an exemplary embodiment as shown in FIGS. 15, 16A and 16B, cuttingblades 301, 302 and mixing blades 303, 304 are curved, with saidcurvature extending along all or at least a portion of the length of theblades in a concave configuration in relation to the direction of bladerotation during use.

As shown in FIG. 17, the said cutting blades 301, 302 further comprise arake angle labeled “A” and a clearance angle labeled “B”. The plane ofrotation defines a horizontal reference plane and the axis of rotationis orthogonal to said plane of rotation. Said rake angle A is that angleextending between the rake surface 316 and the vertical axis ofrotation. The clearance angle B is the angle extending between thereference plane and the underside 317 of the blade.

Referring again to FIG. 11, the first cutting blade 301 furthercomprises one or more grooves 320, 321, 322 to aid in cutting efficiencyand power management. The grooves 320, 321, 322 are positioned along theleading edge 314 and extend into the body of the cutting blade 301. Thesecond cutting blade 302 also comprises one or more grooves 323, 324,again to aid in cutting efficiency and power management. The grooves323, 324 are positioned along the leading edge 314 and extend into thebody of the blade 302.

In an exemplary embodiment, with respect to the first cutting blade 301,the dimension D1 of a first groove 320 is greater than the dimension D2of a second groove 321. Likewise, the dimension D2 of the second groove321 is greater than the dimension D3 of the third groove 322. Similarly,with respect to the second cutting blade 302, the dimension D4 of thefourth groove 323 is greater than the dimension D5 of the fifth groove324. Referring to FIG. 18, the said grooves 320, 321, 322, 323, 324 arepositioned along the leading edges 314 of the cutting blades 301, 302 soas to create alternate cutting profile rings. The largest groove on thefirst cutting blade 301, the first groove 320, is positioned closest tothe proximal end 312 while the smallest groove on the first cuttingblade 301, the third groove 322, is positioned closest to the opposingend of the first cutting blade 301. Similarly, the largest groove on thesecond cutting blade 302, the fourth groove 323, is positioned closer tothe proximal end 312 while the smallest groove on the second cuttingblade 302, the fifth groove 324, is positioned closer to the opposingend of the second cutting blade 302. This arrangement of alternatinggrooves on opposing cutting blades 301, 302 creates a favorable cuttingprofile.

In a further aspect of the blade assembly 300, the central support hub305 comprises at least one V-shaped groove 325 on the underside of thecentral support hub 305 as can be seen in FIG. 19. One edge of theV-shaped groove 325 extends along a portion of the side of the firstcutting blade 301. In an alternate embodiment (not shown), a secondV-shaped groove 325 could be provided along a portion of the side of thesecond cutting blade 302. The V-shaped groove 325 aids in directing thematerial to be processed away from the central support hub 305 and intothe path of the cutting blades 301, 302 and the mixing blades 303, 304.

The device 10 further includes a bowl assembly 350 that joins with a lidassembly 400. The bowl assembly 350 comprises a beaker 351 and an outerbowl 352. The beaker 351 fits inside the outer bowl 352. The beaker 351holds the food materials to be processed by the device 10 during use.

FIG. 20 is an isometric view of the exterior of the beaker 351 and oneor more alternating beaker alignment features 353, 354 on the bottom ofthe beaker 351. In an exemplary embodiment, a first type of beakeralignment features 353 have a peripheral wall 355 that meets the bottomsurface of the beaker 351 at an angle. A second type of alignmentfeatures 354 have a peripheral wall 356 that creates a vertical face357. Once the beaker 351 is joined with the outer bowl 352, the verticalface 357 prevents rotation of the beaker 351 inside the outer bowl 352when the moving blade assembly 300 is operating during use of thedevice.

The beaker alignment features 353, 354 also aid in the fixing of frozeningredients within said beaker 351. The beaker alignment features 353,354 prevent such ingredients from rotational movement within the beaker351 in the direction of the moving blade assembly 300 during use. Itwill be appreciated that in one embodiment, the beaker 351 can bemanufactured from a disposable material to enhance the convenience ofusing the device 10. Further, the beaker 351 can be sold as a standalone item, and further can be prefilled with ingredients to beprocessed during use of the device 10.

FIG. 21 is an isometric view of the outer bowl 352 comprising a handle358. As noted above, the beaker 351 fits within the outer bowl 352. Ascan be seen in FIG. 22, the bottom of outer bowl 352 comprises one ormore alignment features 361 that engage with the alignment features 353,354 on the bottom of beaker 351. The vertical faces 357 of the beakeralignment features abut the outer bowl alignment features 361 to preventthe relative rotational movement of the beaker 351 within the outer bowl352 during use of the device 10.

The outer bowl 352 further comprises lid locking features to attach thelid assembly 400 to the outer bowl by rotation. FIG. 21 shows anoutwardly projecting lip 359 along a portion of the circumference of theouter bowl 352. The lip 359 is interrupted along the circumference ofthe outer bowl 352. One or more protrusions 360 extend in a downwardbiased position from the lip 359 at the point where the lip isinterrupted. Lid assembly connectors 373 travel along the lip 359 duringrotation of the lid assembly 400 onto the outer bowl 352. The protrusion360 acts as a ramp for said connectors 373. When the end of theprotrusion 360 is reached, the lid assembly connectors 373 occupy theaforementioned spaces existing along the lip 359.

FIG. 23 is an isometric view of the top of the lifting platform 362.FIG. 24 is an isometric view of the interior of the lifting platform362. The outer bowl 352 comprises locating and locking elements forpositioning and connecting the outer bowl 352 to the top of the liftingplatform 362. As can be seen in FIG. 22 and FIG. 23, the underside ofthe outer bowl 352 comprises one or more indentations 363 sized toreceive corresponding projections 364 on the top of said liftingplatform 362. At least one such projection on the top of said liftingplatform 362 comprises a cutaway 365 (FIG. 23) to receive acorresponding ledge 366 (FIG. 22) on the outer bowl 352 when the outerbowl 352 is rotated on the lifting platform 362, locking the outer bowl352 and the lifting platform 362 together.

Referring to FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, the interior of lifting platform 362further comprises one or more pins 367. The pins 367 follow a cam path368 located on the interior wall of a cam path tubular insert 369positioned inside the lifting platform 362. FIG. 26 is a cutaway viewshowing the cam path tubular insert 369 positioned within the liftingplatform 362 with the bowl assembly 350 in the down position. When thebowl assembly 350 is locked to the lifting platform 362 and rotated viathe handle 358, the pins 367 travel along the cam path 368, verticallyraising the bowl assembly 350, lid assembly 400, and lifting platform362, enabling the blade assembly 300 to engage with the power coupling252.

Referring to FIG. 27, a view of the underside of the lid assembly 400with a blade assembly 300 releasably retained therein is shown. The lidassembly 400 includes a lid 404, a clip release lever 406, and a primaryset of clips 408. The central support hub 305 of the blade assembly 300is inserted into a central aperture 412 of the lid assembly 400.

Referring now to FIG. 28, an isolated overhead view of the bladeassembly 300 and the primary set of clips 408 is shown. The primary setof clips 408 are spring biased toward the central support hub 305 by atleast one spring 414. The spring(s) 414 are shown unattached and in thecompressed state in FIG. 28. In normal use, however, the spring(s) 414are extended and attached to opposing primary clips 408 such that thespring(s) 414 tend to pull the opposing primary clips 408 toward eachother.

Referring now to FIGS. 29 and 30, the primary set of clips 408 are shownengaged with the central support hub 305. The central support hub 305includes an external angled ledge 310 and an external undercut 311. Eachprimary clip in the set 408 includes a primary engagement structure 418that includes a primary upper retention surface 420 and a primary lowersurface 422. Although two primary clips 408 are shown in the embodiment,more or fewer than two clips can be utilized.

During the connection process, when the central support hub 305 of theblade assembly 300 is positioned in lid assembly 400, the primary lowersurfaces 422 engage with the external angled ledge 310 of the centralsupport hub 305. The primary lower surfaces 422 contact the externalangled ledge 310 of the central support hub 305 and, when the bladeassembly is pressed into the lid assembly 400, the primary lowersurfaces 422 engage the external angled ledge 310 and tend to urge theprimary set of clips 408 to move outwards against the force of thespring(s) 414. The outward movement of the primary set of clips 408allows the primary engagement structures 418 to pass by the outside ofthe central support hub 305. When a blade assembly 300 is not located inthe lid assembly 400, the primary set of clips 408 are urged by thespring(s) 414 to a rest position that is further inward than shown in,e.g., FIG. 30.

As shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, after the primary engagement structures 418travel past the outside of the central support hub 305, the primaryengagement structures 418 then enter the external central support hubundercut 311. The spring(s) 414 urge the primary set of clips 408toward, and remain in, an engaged position. The external central supporthub undercut 311 has a generally flat surface that extends radiallyoutward at an approximately 90-degree angle relative to the central axisof the blade assembly 300. Similarly, the primary upper retentionsurface 420 is preferably angled such that it engages with the externalcentral support hub undercut 311 in a manner that retains the bladeassembly 300 in the lid assembly 400 even in the event that significantdisengagement forces are applied to the blade assembly 300.

Referring now to FIGS. 31A-C, the lid assembly 400 also includes a cliprelease lever 406. The clip release lever 406 is retained on theremainder of the lid assembly 400 in a manner such that it can moverotationally relative to the remainder of the lid assembly 404 within apre-determined range of motion. The embodiment shown permits rotationfrom a home position (0-degrees of rotation) to a fully-rotatedposition. In the embodiment shown, the clip release lever 406 includes alever arm 430 and primary lever engagement surfaces 432. Therefore,motion of the clip release lever 406 directly imparts motion on theprimary set of the clips 408, and vice versa, as shown sequentially inFIGS. 31A, 31B and 31C.

The primary lever engagement surfaces 432 engage with the pins 436 ofthe primary set of clips 408 during at least some portion of therotation of the clip release lever 406. The primary lever engagementsurface 432 acts to move the primary set of clips 408 from the homeposition where the primary set of clips 408 are fully spring biasedtoward each other and are in the rest position (FIG. 31A) to afully-rotated position where the primary set of clips 408 are retractedaway from each other (FIG. 31C). As shown, the primary lever engagementsurfaces 432 are located on an inner surface of opposing angled slots onthe clip release lever 406 and engage with pins 436 on each of theprimary clips 408 during at least a portion of the rotational travel ofthe clip release lever 406. In the present embodiment, the primary setof clips 408 are spring biased toward the central hub support 305 when ablade assembly 300 is positioned in lid assembly 400. In the presentembodiment, the clip release lever 406 is in the mid-way position (seeFIG. 31B), which is approximately half-way between the home position(FIG. 31A) and the fully-rotated position (FIG. 31C), when a bladeassembly 300 is positioned in the lid assembly 400. Once the cliprelease lever 406 has been rotated past the position shown in FIG. 31B,the primary set of clips 408 begin to retract from the central supporthub 305 until the primary set of clips 408 are fully retracted and ceaseretaining the blade assembly 300 in the lid assembly 400. When the cliprelease lever 406 is in the fully-rotated position (FIG. 31C), theprimary set of clips 408 are retracted outward to a position outside ofthe central support hub 305, allowing the blade assembly 300 to bedisengaged from the lid assembly 400, if desired. Likewise, in theposition shown in FIG. 31C, the blade assembly 300 can also be installedinto the lid assembly 400.

Referring now to FIGS. 32, 33A, and 33B, the upper housing 140 includesa clip lever contact ledge 440. During the installation of the bowlassembly 350 and the lid assembly 400 onto the lower housing 100, thebowl and lid assemblies 350, 400 are placed on the lifting platform 360and rotated relative to the lower base 100. As the installation of thebowl assembly 350 and the lid assembly 400 takes place, the lid assembly400 rises upwards as it rotates relative to the lower base 100. In theevent that the blade assembly 300 is properly installed in the lidassembly 400, the clip release lever 406 will rise to a height necessaryto contact the clip lever contact ledge 440 during its rotation (seeFIG. 33B). Conversely, in the event the blade assembly 300 is notinstalled in the lid assembly 400, the clip release lever 406 will notrise to the height necessary to contact the clip lever contact ledge 440(FIG. 33A) and the clip release lever will rotate past the ledge 440. Ininstances where the clip release lever 406 contacts the clip levercontact ledge 440, the rotation of the clip release lever 406 relativeto the lower base 100 will halt, and the clip release lever 406 willcommence rotation relative to the remainder of the lid assembly 400. Ininstances where the clip release lever 406 does not contact the cliplever contact ledge 440, the rotation of the clip release lever 406relative to the lower base 100 will continue, and the clip release lever406 will continue to rotate with the remainder of the lid assembly 400relative to the lower base 100. Therefore, the clip release lever 406will be in a different position when the bowl assembly 650 and lidassembly 400 are fully installed depending on whether a blade assembly300 is installed or not. In some embodiments, the final position of theclip release lever 406 when the bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400are installed can be detected by the device to determine whether tooperate as intended, or to indicate to the user that the blade assembly300 is not properly installed.

In order for the power shaft 250 to properly connect to the bladeassembly 300 during installation, the blade assembly 300 must be seatedproperly in the lid assembly 400 both prior to and immediately aftercompletion of the connection to the power shaft 250. In order to detectproper location of the blade assembly 300, the device 10 can furtherinclude a blade assembly detection mechanism 450 that detects thepositioning of the blade assembly 300. For example, the system canutilize optical, mechanical and/or electrical means.

In operation, a user places ingredient(s) inside the beaker 351 and theninto a freezer until the ingredients are brought to the appropriatetemperature; typically, the temperature is sub-freezing. The beaker 351holding the frozen ingredients is then placed into the outer bowl 352.The blade assembly 300 is inserted into the lid assembly 400 such thatthe external central hub undercut engages the spring-biased primary setsof clips 408. The installation of the blade assembly 300 into the lidassembly 400 causes the clip release lever to rotate from the homeposition (FIG. 31A) to the mid-way rotated position (FIG. 32B). The lidassembly 400 (with installed blade assembly 300) is then placed onto thebeaker 351 and outer bowl 352 and, together, placed onto the liftingplatform 360.

The user then rotates the bowl and the lid assemblies 350, 400 relativeto the lower base 100 such that the lifting platform 362 rises upwards,moving the blade and lid assemblies 350, 400 toward the power shaft 250and power shaft coupling 254 until the connection is completed. Duringthe rotation, the clip release lever 406 rises to a height necessary tocontact the clip lever contact ledge 440 (FIG. 35B) which halts therotation of the clip release lever 406 relative to the lower base 100and causes rotation of the clip release lever 406 relative to theremainder of the lid assembly 400. Preferably, the lid assembly 400 andblade assembly 300 are raised to a height necessary for the power shaft250/power shaft coupling 254 connection to be at least partiallycomplete prior to the clip release lever contacting the ledge. Morepreferably, the power shaft 250/power shaft coupling 254 connection isfully complete prior to the clip release lever contacting the ledge.Once the power shaft 250/power shaft coupling 254 connection iscomplete, the magnet 258 on the power shaft 250 attaches to the bladeassembly 300, retaining the blade assembly 300 in place. As theinstallation continues, the rotation of the clip release lever 406relative to the remainder of the lid assembly 400 causes the primary setof clips 408 to disengage from the central support hub 305 of the bladeassembly 300 while the bowl assembly 350 and remainder of the lidassembly 400 continue rotating until the installation is completed.

In instances where the blade assembly 300 is not installed in the lidassembly 400 prior to installation of the bowl assembly 350 and lidassembly 400 into the device, the clip release lever 406 will be locatedin the home position at the commencement of the installation process. Asthe bowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400 rotate on the liftingplatform 360, the clip release arm 430 will, as shown in FIGS. 34A-C,pass under the ledge 440 prior to rising to the height necessary tocontact the ledge 440. The clip release lever 406 will continue torotate with the lid assembly 400 throughout installation, indicating tothe device 10 and/or user that the blade assembly 300 is not installed,and the device 10 will not operate as expected.

In instances where the blade assembly 300 is properly installed in thebowl assembly 350 and lid assembly 400, the user may optionally selectto operate the device 10 using a pre-determined program to produce adesired product using the user interface. Alternatively, a manualoperation, where the user dictates the speed of the rotation of theblade, the rate of descent of the blade, and/or the depth the bladeenters into the ingredient(s) (among other controllable parameters), canbe carried out. The drive motor operates to turn the power shaft 250and, accordingly, the blade assembly 300. As the blade assembly 300turns, the cutting blades 301, 302 and mixing blades 303, 304 also beginto spin.

The position motor 260 operates to move drive motor assembly 240 and theblade assembly 300 upward and downward, based on the direction ofoperation. The now-spinning blade assembly 300 can then be plunged to adesired depth into the frozen ingredients at a desired spin rate anddescent rate. As the blade assembly 300 spins in the frozen ingredients,the cutting blades 301, 302 operate to repeatedly cut through a thinlayer of the frozen ingredients and the mixing blades 303, 304 operateto mix and smooth the loosened frozen ingredients.

After the blade assembly 300 has reached the desired lowest position inthe frozen ingredients, the blade assembly 300 is then moved backupwards toward the lid assembly 400 by reversing the direction of theposition motor 260. The blade assembly 300 can, optionally, berepeatedly plunged into the frozen ingredient(s) additional times. Afterthe final plunge into the frozen ingredients, the position motor 260 isoperated until the blade assembly 300 is returned to the lid assembly400.

The user then rotates the bowl and lid assemblies 350, 400 relative tothe lower base 100 in the opposite direction that was utilized duringinstallation. The rotation of the bowl and lid assemblies 350, 400permits rotation of the clip release lever 406 from the fully-rotatedposition to the midway rotated position and the primary set of clips 408re-engage with the central support hub 305 of the blade assembly 300.The rotation of the bowl assembly and lid assemblies 350, 400 alsocauses the lifting platform 360 to move downwards toward the lower base100. As the bowl and lid assemblies 350, 400 move downwards, the bladeassembly 300 separates from the power coupling 252. The bowl and lidassemblies 350, 400 are then removed from the remainder of the device10, and the lid assembly 400 (with the blade assembly 300 stillinstalled therein) is removed from the bowl assembly 350. Thenow-processed ingredients can now be enjoyed.

The user can optionally rotate the clip release lever 406 to the fullyrotated position, releasing the primary set of clips 408 from engagementwith the central support hub 305. With both the primary sets of clips408 released, the user can easily remove the blade assembly 300 from thelid assembly 400 for cleaning and/or storage.

As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate likeor corresponding parts. While illustrative embodiments of the presentdisclosure have been described and illustrated above, it should beunderstood that these are exemplary of the disclosure and are not to beconsidered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and othermodifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is not to beconsidered as limited by the foregoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A micro puree machine, comprising: a bladeassembly having a central support hub, a blade, and an undercutextending at least partially around a circumference of the centralsupport hub; a lid assembly configured to cooperate with a bowlassembly, the lid assembly including a lid and a clip mechanism, the lidhaving an aperture that defines an axis; wherein the clip mechanism ismovable between a first position and a second position, at least aportion of the clip mechanism cooperating with the undercut at times theclip mechanism is the in the first position and at least a portion ofthe central support hub is positioned in the aperture; wherein the bladeassembly is retained in the lid assembly at times the clip mechanism isin or near the first position, and the blade assembly is disengaged fromthe undercut and removable from the lid assembly at times the clipmechanism is in or near the second position.
 2. The micro puree machineof claim 1, wherein the clip mechanism is spring biased toward the axis.3. The micro puree machine of claim 1, wherein the undercut has asurface that extends radially outward at an approximately 90-degreeangle relative to the axis of the blade assembly.
 4. The micro pureemachine of claim 3, wherein the clip mechanism includes an upperretention surface that is angled such that it engages with the externalcentral support hub undercut.
 5. The micro puree machine of claim 1wherein at least a portion of the clip mechanism cooperates with theundercut at times the mechanism is between the first and secondpositions.
 6. The micro puree machine of claim 1 wherein the lidassembly further includes a release mechanism positionable relative tothe clip mechanism.
 7. The micro puree machine of claim 6, wherein therelease mechanism includes a clip release lever arm that extendsradially outward from the axis.
 8. The micro puree machine of claim 7,wherein the clip release lever includes a primary lever engagementsurface that cooperates with the clip mechanism such that rotation ofthe clip release lever imparts motion to the clip mechanism between thefirst and second positions.
 9. The micro puree machine of claim 1wherein the bowl assembly includes a first outer bowl and second innerbeaker that is positioned inside the first outer bowl.
 10. The micropuree machine of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly includes a cuttingblade and a mixing blade.
 11. The micro puree machine of claim 10,wherein the blade assembly includes at least two cutting blades and atleast two mixing blades.
 12. The micro puree machine of claim 10,wherein the central support hub includes a power shaft coupling that isconfigured to receive a drive shaft.